What is California FICA Tax?

The FICA Tax (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) is a United States payroll tax (or employment) imposed by the federal government on both employees and employers to fund the Social Security and Medicare —federal programs that provide benefits for retirees, the disabled, and children of deceased workers.

How much is California FICA Tax?

The FICA tax rate is 15.3% of taxable wages. The taxable wage base is the first $118,500 paid in wages to each employee during a calendar year. The FICA tax is shared equally between the employee and the employer. The employee has to pay 7.65% FICA Tax on the wages earned while the employer has to match the contribution. Effectively, the employer is helping the employee pay 7.65% of the FICA Tax.

Please note the taxable wage base of $118,500 only applies to the Social Security Tax as Medicare Tax has no taxable wage base.

The FICA tax rate is 15.3% of taxable wages. The FICA Tax is comprised of the Social Security Tax and Medicare Tax. The Social Security taxable wage base is the first $118,500 paid in wages to each employee during a calendar year. The Medicare Tax has no income limit.

California FICA Tax Forms

The FICA Tax is due every 3 months (quarter) of the year. The due dates are January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31.

Tax

Quarter

Period

Due Date

FICA Tax

1st Quarter

January – March

April 30

FICA Tax

2nd Quarter

April – June

July 31

FICA Tax

3rd Quarter

July – September

October 31

FICA Tax

4th Quarter

October – December

January 31

Who pays for FICA Tax?

FICA Tax is paid by both the employer and the employee. The 12.4% Social Security Tax and 2.90% Medicare Tax is shared equally between the employer and employee. The employer withholds FICA Tax from employee’s paycheck and remits the money to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) every quarter.

The Federal Withholding and State Withholding Tax is employee’s responsibility. Whereas, Unemployment Tax and FUTA Tax are employer’s responsibility.